These shores have not seen a ship in the past few years. The Radio Lighthouse beacon switched off after the tsunami recovery broadcasts in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But something kept throbbing inside the lighthouse all this while.
The mission of making communities safer and resilient, and so through their own voices and action, is far from accomplished. The lighthouse feels the urge to light the skies up once again. It knows there are ships out there that it needs to work with for making this world a safer place.
Yes, we are working to crank Radio Lighthouse back to life again! It will be back in a new avatar in the new year. It will work on a renewed mission – of creating and making available community radio content that can serve the community radios coming up across the country and the various community based initiatives that can gain from knowledge content on community based development and risk reduction.
Shashi Tharoor recently delivered a talk on TED, where he convincingly spoke that the strongest country today is not the one with the biggest army, but the one that tells the best story. This is true for the social sector too. Organisations need to tell better stories; communities need to do so too. The frontiers of the development and risk reduction mission will be conquered with knowledge and story telling. And community radio will have a huge role to play in this. Radio Lighthouses promises itself to be a useful foot soldier in this war against poverty, underdevelopment and disasters.
Do help us light this horizon up!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Tell Me Why?
A number of voluntary groups tried to record audio programs with communities over the past years. Their only options were to broadcast them through All India Radio, or do narrowcasting. Often the lack of understanding at AIR regarding community radio blocked true content from going on the airwaves, forcing much of the lower end programming to be restricted to local narrowcasting. Then WorldSpace happened, and some could gain access to the satellite waves. However, the severe limitation was that hardly anybody in the catchment community owned satellite radio receivers. And then came the much awaited and much fought for CR policy. There were celebrations, and a number of consultations took place in Delhi in quick succession, at IIC, Pragati Maidan, NFI and IIMC. The National Consultation for Practicing and Potential Community Radio Operators in India, organized by Unesco and others on 6-7 March attracted wide participation and interest.
Some very encouraging ideas, very valid concerns and very worrying statements emerged.
“The Indian airwaves are now opening up. There is still much to be achieved, but the CR policy is a major step that will allow the civil society to air its voice.”
“Community radio stations can be set up by registered non profit organizations with at least three years of track record of working with the local community.”
“This is not community radio; this is NGO radio.”
“You need clearances from four different ministries?”
“Yes, but you don't need to run to all of them. For the applicant it's a single window service. You will get your approval within six months.”
“In disaster situations, the ministry will consider fast track approvals.”
“Will community radio be exempt from copyright, like it is in other parts of the world?”
“We will not allow kajrare to play on community radio. If you want to play kajrare, then go set up a commercial radio station.”
“Of course no news and current affairs programmes will be allowed on community radio; that is not allowed even on private FM channels.”
“Does the news of an impending flood constitute news? Is it allowed or not?”
“No, that is not political news, so it can be allowed”
“If the flood is due to poor embankments built by the local MLA through his development fund, is it political news?”
“Err.. mmm… oh just go ahead; who is checking.”
“No. They can shut us down.”
“Setting up a CR station will set you back by twenty lakhs.”
“No, three lakhs.”
“No, ten thousand.”
“Don't worry about stereo sound. Just use an inexpensive diskless recorder. It is community radio after all.”
It may be a natural step forward for the practicing community radio operator, but for sure times are as confusing as they can be for the potential operator. Does the policy really mean community radio is here? If communities are not allowed, and only NGOs with track record, capacity, funds etc. can set up radio stations, how many of such stations will really come up and sustain in the coming years? If NGOs are the route to go, then why an NGO, in spite of its size, capacity and track record being recognized, is being allowed only one radio station?
Why a group of village youth, with a letter of recommendation from the Panchayat, cannot set up a radio station for the village? Why AIR refuses to broadcast a community radio programme because its production is not `professional’ enough? Why a locally built hundred rupee transmitter cannot be allowed? Why community radio should not play kajrare? Why the line dividing popular entertainment and social programmes has to be so stark? Why does entertainment for communities have to mean folk songs only? Why quality can ignored when it is to do with anything community?
Why can’t communities be trusted?
Why must we think of communities as dumb?
Tell me why?
Some very encouraging ideas, very valid concerns and very worrying statements emerged.
“The Indian airwaves are now opening up. There is still much to be achieved, but the CR policy is a major step that will allow the civil society to air its voice.”
“Community radio stations can be set up by registered non profit organizations with at least three years of track record of working with the local community.”
“This is not community radio; this is NGO radio.”
“You need clearances from four different ministries?”
“Yes, but you don't need to run to all of them. For the applicant it's a single window service. You will get your approval within six months.”
“In disaster situations, the ministry will consider fast track approvals.”
“Will community radio be exempt from copyright, like it is in other parts of the world?”
“We will not allow kajrare to play on community radio. If you want to play kajrare, then go set up a commercial radio station.”
“Of course no news and current affairs programmes will be allowed on community radio; that is not allowed even on private FM channels.”
“Does the news of an impending flood constitute news? Is it allowed or not?”
“No, that is not political news, so it can be allowed”
“If the flood is due to poor embankments built by the local MLA through his development fund, is it political news?”
“Err.. mmm… oh just go ahead; who is checking.”
“No. They can shut us down.”
“Setting up a CR station will set you back by twenty lakhs.”
“No, three lakhs.”
“No, ten thousand.”
“Don't worry about stereo sound. Just use an inexpensive diskless recorder. It is community radio after all.”
It may be a natural step forward for the practicing community radio operator, but for sure times are as confusing as they can be for the potential operator. Does the policy really mean community radio is here? If communities are not allowed, and only NGOs with track record, capacity, funds etc. can set up radio stations, how many of such stations will really come up and sustain in the coming years? If NGOs are the route to go, then why an NGO, in spite of its size, capacity and track record being recognized, is being allowed only one radio station?
Why a group of village youth, with a letter of recommendation from the Panchayat, cannot set up a radio station for the village? Why AIR refuses to broadcast a community radio programme because its production is not `professional’ enough? Why a locally built hundred rupee transmitter cannot be allowed? Why community radio should not play kajrare? Why the line dividing popular entertainment and social programmes has to be so stark? Why does entertainment for communities have to mean folk songs only? Why quality can ignored when it is to do with anything community?
Why can’t communities be trusted?
Why must we think of communities as dumb?
Tell me why?
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
on and on...
now is that crucial time of post production, tedious logging of tapes, writing scripts that are different and new and sound, adding sound elements that will make the programmes kick-ass smart and on and on...
in marathi there's a saying, hatti gela pan sheput rahila, loosely translated as "the elephant has managed to pass but the tail is getting stuck"...
so it is one of those less interesting and more important times...
by the time i finish all the programmes, i hope to have figured audio streaming on this blog...
will be back in a bit...
in marathi there's a saying, hatti gela pan sheput rahila, loosely translated as "the elephant has managed to pass but the tail is getting stuck"...
so it is one of those less interesting and more important times...
by the time i finish all the programmes, i hope to have figured audio streaming on this blog...
will be back in a bit...
Monday, January 29, 2007
der na ho jaye kahin der na ho jaye...
pyare baraf bhagvan or dear dear god of snow,
it has been 2 years since you visited shimla and around. everyone, including me, a petty visitor, is eagerly waiting to see how this lazy beautiful place becomes white fur covered lazy and more beautiful place. you not only help the poor apple trees to keep themselves fresh for the next season, but also the poor people to keep themselves going in the snow-tourist season. you also i guess shield the mindless development that makes this place a bit tyaaan. (sound of the word tyaaan = not very appealing, as opposed to sound of the word toink = calvin hit a bright idea)
there have been usual rounds of rumours about dates and times of your arrival. though we wish the rumours had some water in it, all we got was random clouds walking around shimla like a disinterested stray dog.
we met many many apple orchard owners. some rich, some poor. the rich may tide over this season as well. they also have alternative income options like vehicle business. but some like bidiyaviti has already started selling things which she does not use at home. and the grim possibility of permanent damage to these half painted apple trees, which take 10 years to start yielding fruits, if it does not rain. also if u come too late, then the delicate flowers won't hold up against your chill hugs. so hurry up please.
also a shopkeeper in mall road has not placed any order for woollen socks as she is convinced she won't be able to sell them. "jab tak baraf nahi ati, tourist kaise aayenge?" (how will the tourists come, if it doesn't snow?) good question!
on my way back from thanedar and korgarh, a tourist taxi stopped and asked where will they find snow. we had spotted some spots of snow (rather dirtish ice patches, still a novelty for tourists from the plains). as we directed them, the taxi stereo started playing, "der na ho jaye kahin, der na ho jaye, aaja re mahi". remember that old old song from henna which had a pakistani star who acted in raj kapoor's lastish movie. it is funny how tourist taxis always play these strange forgotten but apt numbers.
so there, come soon. the rumour of arrival on 29th is behind us. please dont prove the scary enviornmetalists right who threaten and warn us global warming, deforestation, urbanisation theories.
just come yaar.
with love,
all of us.
it has been 2 years since you visited shimla and around. everyone, including me, a petty visitor, is eagerly waiting to see how this lazy beautiful place becomes white fur covered lazy and more beautiful place. you not only help the poor apple trees to keep themselves fresh for the next season, but also the poor people to keep themselves going in the snow-tourist season. you also i guess shield the mindless development that makes this place a bit tyaaan. (sound of the word tyaaan = not very appealing, as opposed to sound of the word toink = calvin hit a bright idea)
there have been usual rounds of rumours about dates and times of your arrival. though we wish the rumours had some water in it, all we got was random clouds walking around shimla like a disinterested stray dog.
we met many many apple orchard owners. some rich, some poor. the rich may tide over this season as well. they also have alternative income options like vehicle business. but some like bidiyaviti has already started selling things which she does not use at home. and the grim possibility of permanent damage to these half painted apple trees, which take 10 years to start yielding fruits, if it does not rain. also if u come too late, then the delicate flowers won't hold up against your chill hugs. so hurry up please.
also a shopkeeper in mall road has not placed any order for woollen socks as she is convinced she won't be able to sell them. "jab tak baraf nahi ati, tourist kaise aayenge?" (how will the tourists come, if it doesn't snow?) good question!
on my way back from thanedar and korgarh, a tourist taxi stopped and asked where will they find snow. we had spotted some spots of snow (rather dirtish ice patches, still a novelty for tourists from the plains). as we directed them, the taxi stereo started playing, "der na ho jaye kahin, der na ho jaye, aaja re mahi". remember that old old song from henna which had a pakistani star who acted in raj kapoor's lastish movie. it is funny how tourist taxis always play these strange forgotten but apt numbers.
so there, come soon. the rumour of arrival on 29th is behind us. please dont prove the scary enviornmetalists right who threaten and warn us global warming, deforestation, urbanisation theories.
just come yaar.
with love,
all of us.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
quick update...
January 26
I haven’t managed to connect last few days. We recorded a few interviews but that was all. Everyone is on a holiday and an extended one at that. Himachal Day followed by Republic Day followed by weekend followed by another holiday on Tuesday! Right!
We spoke to some very interesting geologists and their perspective on Himachal, Shimla, science, nature and future was engaging and thought-provoking (for the want of a more spontaneous word).
Then we spoke to a group from Mandi, who was to perform their folk dance (they must have, we missed it today!), an old old man called Mangatram, a group of college students, Mayor and spoke to a few others who did not want to record their interviews but still did not mind sharing their views on Shimla.
Broadly, everyone agrees that there is a possibility of a natural disaster… Like earthquake striking the congested hill station. And that the city is not equipped to deal with one. However, no one is really worried as there has not been one and everyone accepts the suffocating dangerous concretisation as we all accept corruption, I guess. People very vaguely remember the Kangra earthquake and nothing more. They are more worried about lack of snow in the last couple of years.
It was heartening to see that so many people turned up for the Republic Day celebrations on the mall road. Otherwise, haven’t these days become just another holiday to sort things at home and catch up on urban-lifestyle-induced-lack-of-sleep?
I haven’t managed to connect last few days. We recorded a few interviews but that was all. Everyone is on a holiday and an extended one at that. Himachal Day followed by Republic Day followed by weekend followed by another holiday on Tuesday! Right!
We spoke to some very interesting geologists and their perspective on Himachal, Shimla, science, nature and future was engaging and thought-provoking (for the want of a more spontaneous word).
Then we spoke to a group from Mandi, who was to perform their folk dance (they must have, we missed it today!), an old old man called Mangatram, a group of college students, Mayor and spoke to a few others who did not want to record their interviews but still did not mind sharing their views on Shimla.
Broadly, everyone agrees that there is a possibility of a natural disaster… Like earthquake striking the congested hill station. And that the city is not equipped to deal with one. However, no one is really worried as there has not been one and everyone accepts the suffocating dangerous concretisation as we all accept corruption, I guess. People very vaguely remember the Kangra earthquake and nothing more. They are more worried about lack of snow in the last couple of years.
It was heartening to see that so many people turned up for the Republic Day celebrations on the mall road. Otherwise, haven’t these days become just another holiday to sort things at home and catch up on urban-lifestyle-induced-lack-of-sleep?
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
curtain of rays, hopes for snow and italian pancakes...
started recording in a school, at basantpur, approximately 50 km from shimla. 201 children divided in 5 classes from 6th to 10th.
basantpur is as it sounds... overlooking valleys and mountains... (well, what does not but still) classes are held in old school style under trees and in the open... everybody sees everybody... this is perhaps for few months of winter, when they want to make the most of the "thandi thandi dhoop" and anyways, the classrooms are too cold for anybody's comfort...
simriti and i recorded interviews of the principal, a physical education teacher and a sanskrit teacher. (i will not elaborate about his super pure sanskrit laden hindi, i had the least number of questions for him, but of course, he was also the most articulte and sweet sounding... long live use of one pure language in normal speech!). then we spoke to the kids, some shy some could just replace the best anchors! (do they exist? wink, wink)
there had been a mock drill in this school couple of months back and it was a good idea to meet these kids. they knew their stuff, also it was a good brushing of memory session.
himanshu, seemed the head boy type, helped all the younger kids as well as shy shy girls..
basic pointers :
there hasn't been snow in shimla for more than two years.
temperatures are rising and people are not liking it.
earthquake training is required in schools
illegal congested construction should stop but will not
children not only pick up duck, cover, hold but an attitude of preventing and minimising the damages...
last but not the least, at tattapani, religious place of sulphur springs, there is an italian restaurant (owners or cooks or managers wife is an italian, i believe) which gave us much needed banana pan cakes... a bit weird, women, men, kids dipping for getting plus points with the man above and an italian menu... hmmm... an old old man smoking bidi...
on our way back as we came through the turn turn and turn more (man, my tummy goes through samudra manthan, mythical churning of the sea, all the time), i saw curtain of sunrays. curtain, coz it is so clearly divided - one half of the mountain is cold, in the shadow and the pine trees look like green balls of cotton... the other is warm, bright, in the sun and the pine trees shine, spike and look sharp...
remembered himanshu's plan of future... he wants to become an engineer and that too from bangalore... stepping from this side of curtain to the other, may be?
basantpur is as it sounds... overlooking valleys and mountains... (well, what does not but still) classes are held in old school style under trees and in the open... everybody sees everybody... this is perhaps for few months of winter, when they want to make the most of the "thandi thandi dhoop" and anyways, the classrooms are too cold for anybody's comfort...
simriti and i recorded interviews of the principal, a physical education teacher and a sanskrit teacher. (i will not elaborate about his super pure sanskrit laden hindi, i had the least number of questions for him, but of course, he was also the most articulte and sweet sounding... long live use of one pure language in normal speech!). then we spoke to the kids, some shy some could just replace the best anchors! (do they exist? wink, wink)
there had been a mock drill in this school couple of months back and it was a good idea to meet these kids. they knew their stuff, also it was a good brushing of memory session.
himanshu, seemed the head boy type, helped all the younger kids as well as shy shy girls..
basic pointers :
there hasn't been snow in shimla for more than two years.
temperatures are rising and people are not liking it.
earthquake training is required in schools
illegal congested construction should stop but will not
children not only pick up duck, cover, hold but an attitude of preventing and minimising the damages...
last but not the least, at tattapani, religious place of sulphur springs, there is an italian restaurant (owners or cooks or managers wife is an italian, i believe) which gave us much needed banana pan cakes... a bit weird, women, men, kids dipping for getting plus points with the man above and an italian menu... hmmm... an old old man smoking bidi...
on our way back as we came through the turn turn and turn more (man, my tummy goes through samudra manthan, mythical churning of the sea, all the time), i saw curtain of sunrays. curtain, coz it is so clearly divided - one half of the mountain is cold, in the shadow and the pine trees look like green balls of cotton... the other is warm, bright, in the sun and the pine trees shine, spike and look sharp...
remembered himanshu's plan of future... he wants to become an engineer and that too from bangalore... stepping from this side of curtain to the other, may be?
Monday, January 22, 2007
place changes, work doesn't...
And we are back.
From a slightly different place. Instead of reporting from humid, hot, wavy, oceany, randomly constructed Andaman’s... ... these bits come from cold, chilly, mountainy, valley, illegally congestedly constructed shimla. and it is freezing!!!
No, we are not doing community training here. Am here for a very short while to record for two programmes on earthquake and disaster management.
It is super cold by my modest minimum 30 c mumbai upbringing. I am starting recording tomorrow. Hoping to catch a glimpse of people’s life here and come up with more subjects for further programming which can be done by simriti in seeds office here.
Needless to say this is the beginning of the end. In some sense. (am back in office by mid feb, have to finish EVERYTHING, before that) Or let’s put it this way. It is just the beginning of wrap up of one process so that better processes and more beautiful tomorrows can begin.
Hoping that the teams set up in Wandoor and my soldiers in port blair seeds are working towards it. Haven’t managed to check on them. Must do it soon, before they get into “out of sight, out of mind,” way of life… it’s amazing how there are equal number of proverbs for exactly opposites thoughts and feelings… like "distance makes heart grow fonder"… by that logic radio lighthouse in Andaman’s should kick-continue (like kick start, hee hee)..
Signing off with a frozen nose… sniff sniff...
From a slightly different place. Instead of reporting from humid, hot, wavy, oceany, randomly constructed Andaman’s... ... these bits come from cold, chilly, mountainy, valley, illegally congestedly constructed shimla. and it is freezing!!!
No, we are not doing community training here. Am here for a very short while to record for two programmes on earthquake and disaster management.
It is super cold by my modest minimum 30 c mumbai upbringing. I am starting recording tomorrow. Hoping to catch a glimpse of people’s life here and come up with more subjects for further programming which can be done by simriti in seeds office here.
Needless to say this is the beginning of the end. In some sense. (am back in office by mid feb, have to finish EVERYTHING, before that) Or let’s put it this way. It is just the beginning of wrap up of one process so that better processes and more beautiful tomorrows can begin.
Hoping that the teams set up in Wandoor and my soldiers in port blair seeds are working towards it. Haven’t managed to check on them. Must do it soon, before they get into “out of sight, out of mind,” way of life… it’s amazing how there are equal number of proverbs for exactly opposites thoughts and feelings… like "distance makes heart grow fonder"… by that logic radio lighthouse in Andaman’s should kick-continue (like kick start, hee hee)..
Signing off with a frozen nose… sniff sniff...
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